(September 29th, 2016) Hollywood Director Fred Olen Ray has wrapped his 4th feature film shot in Western New York. Following the success of “A Prince for Christmas”, “Mother’s Revenge”, and “The Apprentice”, Ray came back for more of what he feels is the best array of locations anywhere outside of Hollywood.
Jordan Ladd (on couch) gets ready for a scene shot in a downtown Buffalo office.
For “Curtains” starring Jordan Ladd (Cabin Fever), Brody Hutzler (Days of Our Lives) and Bob Rusch (Sons of Anarchy), Ray chose North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theatre as the main setting for this thriller about a retired opera singer who receives some unwanted attention.
Curtains shoots in the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.
(September 29th, 2016) In October 2014, LA-based filmmaker Justin Berardi returned to his hometown of Buffalo to shoot his short film THE RUNNER, a dynamic and ambitious project that called for numerous location changes, street closures, public notification and integrated support from the Buffalo Police Department. Berardi and his team worked closely with the Buffalo Niagara Film Office, which offered full-scale support of the production from scouting and prep to shooting highly-coordinated action sequences on-location in and around several Buffalo neighborhoods.
Back in Los Angeles, Berardi tapped a tight-knit team of experienced collaborators who ushered THE RUNNER through post-production, and since then the finished film has played at film festivals around the world. On October 7th at The North Park Theater THE RUNNER will be returning home again to Buffalo to have its North American Premiere at the Buffalo International Film Festival. Berardi and his team are currently coordinating an integration & release strategy for THE RUNNER through which it can continue to make a positive impact and jumpstart the conversation around the important community topics touched on in the film.
(13 September 2016) When professional stunt driver Ken Block was looking for a raw industrial playground to shoot his next Gymkhana video, he sent his producers to the Buffalo Niagara Film Office who gave them more than they ever could have imagined. Starting at the Central Terminal with a journey that spanned a railroad in Eden, to the NFTA Waterfront Terminal, and ending on the elevated South Park lift bridge, Block takes viewers on a ride that they won’t soon forget.
With support from City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and his department of Public Works, Mark Lewandowski and the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and the Buffalo Southern Railroad – Western New York rolled out the red carpet for Block and his crew to make Gymkhana 9 a come to life. Production Company Hoonigan employed over 100 local professional crew members along with a large out of town contingent.
Helicopter stunt at the NFTA Terminal Building on Buffalo’s waterfront.
Ken Block’s Ford ready to launch from Buffalo’s Central Terminal.
The exposure this video has received has been immense. As of September 23rd over 11 million views have been recorded on YouTube.
(July 22nd, 2016) The latest work from the creative mind of author/filmmaker Greg Lamberson “Johnny Gruesome” is shooting now throughout the Western New York region. Lamberson (Black Creek, Killer Rack) has cast Anthony De La Torre and Michael DeLorenzo to star in this Red Hill Movies LLC’s horror thriller.
Day 1 of filming (L-R) Actor Anthony De La Torre, Director Greg Lamberson, and Actor Byron Brown II.
De La Torre (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), front man for the Nashville based rock band De La Torre, will essay the role of Johnny Grissom, a rebellious teenager who is murdered and returns from the grave with revenge on his mind. DeLorenzo (star of New York Undercover and Resurrection Boulevard) plays his grief stricken father. Byron Brown II (The Romans) co-stars, with newcomers April Panaggio and Madison Amey, Chris Modrzynski (Rainbow Bridge Motel), Kim Piazza (Dry Bones) and Richard Lounello (A Mother’s Revenge) in principal roles.
Lamberson wrote the screenplay for Johnny Gruesome in 1984, at the age of 19, shortly after completing the script for his cult film Slime City. In 2007, Bad Moon Books published his novelization of the script as a limited edition hardcover, and one year later Medallion Media Group published a paperback edition which is still available. The novel won the IPPY Gold Medal for Horror and the Black Quill Small Press Readers’ Choice Award from Dark Scribe Magazine, and earned a Bram Stoker Award nomination from the Horror Writers Association. After completing his new comedy Killer Rack, Lamberson and fellow filmmaker John Renna (Dick Johnson and Tommygun vs. the Cannibal Cop) approached Erin Heald and James Williams, who agreed to executive produce.
“This film has been 32 years in the waiting,” says Lamberson. “After securing the funding, my first priority was to cast Johnny. I needed someone who could win over the audience as a bad boy before transforming into a supernatural creature. As soon as I saw Anthony’s head shot I knew he was my guy, and he’s a talented musician to boot. I offered him the role right after I watched his music videos. For Charlie Grissom, I wanted an experienced actor but didn’t want to go the ‘horror actor’ route. Michael has such an impressive body of work, and he’s a talented director as well. These are two multi-talented artists.”
Special make-up effects are being created by Craig Lindberg, who worked on some of Lamberson’s earliest films before becoming a successful make-up and special make-up effects artist on such television series as Saturday Night Live, Boardwalk Empire and Royal Pains. Additional makeup effects are being provided by Mark Kosobucki, and Matthew A. Nardone of NDstudios is the cinematographer. Lamberson aims to complete his dream project by the end of the year and hopes to secure a theatrical release. Johnny Gruesome will be the first of his novels to reach the screen; Carnage Road and his six-book occult detective series The Jake Helman Files are in development with other filmmakers. Lamberson is co-founder of Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival.
(TOP COVER PHOTO: L-R Actress Constance Caldwell (The Romans) comes upon an unfortunate accident victim as Director of Photography Matt Nardone and Key Grip Kash Costner follow the action. )
(July 17, 2016) Back in March of this year Buffalo actor William Fichtner returned home for a special “Behind The Screen” presentation at the Buffalo History Museum. The event was sponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Film Office, The Buffalo Broadcasters and the Buffalo History Museum.
Jeff Simon of the Buffalo News moderated an hour long Q and A session with Bill, and the video results were documented and produced by students studying in the Hilbert College department of Digital Media and Communication through their new immersive learning initiative.
The Hilbert College immersive learning initiative brings together student-driven teams directed by faculty mentors to create high-impact learning experiences. Through immersive learning, students earn credit for working collaboratively with businesses, nonprofits, and state agencies to address community challenges. Students involved were David Seifert, assistant camera and editor; Nick Miller, editor, Chris Gallant, faculty mentor and director.
(Friday, July 1st, 2016) On their final day of shooting the lead actors and Director Reggie Hudlin of the feature film “Marshall”, gathered on set in the decommissioned Dillon Federal Courthouse to reflect on their experience and to share their discovery of Buffalo and Western New York for all that it has to offer.
Giving major kudos to the preservation efforts in Buffalo director Reggie Hudlin was also very impressed by the film friendly atmosphere “The thing we discovered that we were so appreciative of here was the incredible, friendly, open armed spirit of every single person we have met in Buffalo”.
Marshall Star Chadwick Boseman recognized “There’s also a talent base here that made the film possible. we couldn’t have shot the scene on the front steps of City Hall as the courthouse without the people that were already here”. He also added that “He appreciated excitement from the artists that were in the city that got opportunities to do things, whether it was in front of the camera or behind the camera, because those were the same opportunities that got all of us to the places we are right now.”
The off camera experience was a positive one for Kate Hudson and Josh Gad also, as both explored the Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Kate appreciated the independent culinary scene and Canalside. A major history buff Josh had the opportunity to tour behind the scenes at The Buffalo History Museum, where he got to view Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural coat. Gad also stood in the place where he actually took the oath of office for President at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site.
The weather was flawless during the Marshall shoot in Western New York and the shots captured by Director of Photography Tom Sigel are absolutely stunning. Look for a late 2016 release.
